The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) launched an investigation into whether or not certain polyethylene terephthalate resin (PET resin) originating in or exported from China, India, Oman and Pakistan is being sold at unfair prices in Canada and whether or not subsidies are being applied to the resin by the four countries.

The investigation is the result of a complaint filed by a manufacturer Quebec. The complainant alleges that as a result of price undercutting from the subject countries, it faces lost revenue and market share, resulting in reduced production and employment.

In the next step of the investigations the Canadian International Trade Tribunal will begin its preliminary inquiry to determine whether the imports are actually harming Canadian producers, and will issue a decision by October 17, 2017.

Concurrently, the CBSA will investigate whether the imports are being sold in Canada at unfair and/or subsidized prices, and will make preliminary decisions by November 16, 2017.

Anti-dumping duties could eventually be applied to the goods under investigation.